Well pumping means



Sept. 28, 1965 M. M. ROSS 3,208,291

WELL PUMPING MEANS Filed April 25, 1962 INVENTOR. 5m; U 1 WHLBURN M.RUSS i 41: (ILJHZQ @"if g? BY I20 I24 m 5?" 126 w W 4 3- ATTORNEY UnitedStates Patent 3,208,291 WELL PUMPING MEANS Milhurn M. Ross, 631 N. Bind,Wichita, Karts. Filed Apr. 25, 1962, Ser. No. 190,016 4 Claims. (Cl.74-41) This invention relates to pumping means. In a more specificaspect this invention relates to new means for mounting or assemblingthe various elements of well pumping apparatus. In a still more specificaspect the invention relates to new well pumping apparatus havingcounterbalance means and adjustable mounting means for accuratelypositioning the counterbalance means whereby the weight of the fluidbeing pumped can be balanced in the well pumping apparatus.

Various types of well pumping means are known to the prior art. The wellpumping means known to the prior art include means for balancing orcounterbalancing the well pumping apparatus to compensate for the weightof the rods and pumping apparatus in the well hole. The oounterbalancingmeans of the prior art have not been constructed so that the weight ofthe fluid being pumped from the well can be balanced nor have suitableadjusting means been provided for the connecting means joining thewalking beam and the powering means whereby desirable incrementaladjustment can be provided to give the desired motion or stroke to thewalking beam and further to vary the mechanics of the well pumpingapparatus with a minimum of effort.

In accordance with the present invention new well pumping means areprovided which includes support means and means defining a walking beampivotally mounted thereon. Means are carried by one end portion of thewalking beam to connect to pumping apparatus in a well. Powering meansare provided, and connecting means are operatively connected in one endportion to the powering means to be move-d thereby. Mounting means areoperatively connected to the connecting means and adjustably mounted ona walking beam so that movement of the connecting means causes movementof the walking beam. The mounting means has a portion thereof which ispositionably engaged with the walking beam and movable along the walkingbeam.

In a preferred specific embodiment of the invention the connecting meansprojects upwardly beyond the walking beam and is provided in the otherend portion thereof with adjustably mounted counterbalancing weightmeans which move as the horsehead moves to compensate for the fluidweight in the well. In addition, counterbalancing weight means can besecured to the walking beam on the end portion thereof opposite from thehorsehead so that the weight of the apparatus in the well can becounterbalanced and the two counterbalancing means of the inventionresult in a substantially continuous and constant load on the poweringmeans of the apparatus.

Accordingly, it is the object of the invention to provide new wellpumping apparatus.

Another object of the invention is to provide new well pumping meanshaving connecting means operatively connected to powering means and withmounting means operatively connected to the connecting means andadjustably mounted on the walking beam.

A further object of the invention is to provide new adjustable mountingmeans to operatively connect a walking beam and a connecting member sothat the position of the connecting member relative to the walking beamcan be adjusted over relatively small increments.

A still further object of the invention is to provide new well pumpingmeans having provisions therewith to balance the apparatus for theweight of the fluid being pumped from the well.

Various other objects, advantages and features of the 3,Z8,29l PatentedSept. 28, 1965 invention will become apparent to those skilled in theart from the following description taken in connection with theaccompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a side elevation view, partially broken away, illustrating apreferred specific embodiment of the well pumping means of theinvention.

F FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the well pumping means of FIG. 3 is anenlarged partial cross-section view taken along the line 3-3 of FIG. 4illustrating a preferred specific embodiment of the mounting andadjustment means for connecting the walking beam and the connectingmeans of the invention.

FIG. 4 is a view taken along the line 44 of FIG. 3.

The following is a discussion and description of a preferred specificembodiment of the new well pumping means of the invention, such beingmade with reference to the drawings whereon the same reference numeralsare used to indicate the same or similar parts and/or structure. It isto be understood that such discussion and description is not to undulylimit the scope of the invention.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, the well pumping means of theinvention is shown generally at 10 and includes a base 12 which ispreferably constructed of spaced and generally parallel side members 14and 16 which are joined at one end portion to an end member 18 andconnected at the other end portion to an end member 20, the end member20 being generally V-shaped as best illustrated in FIG. 2 to be out ofthe interfering way of the well hole.

A Samson post 22 is provided and is preferably constructed of two spacedand generally parallel channelshaped beams 24 and 26 which arepreferably positioned with the edge portions thereof forming thechannels facing outwardly as shown. The lower end portion of the Samsonpost can be mounted on the base 12 in any suitable manner. Preferably aplate 28 is mounted on the end member 20 and has an upwardly extendingear or support 39 at the end portion thereof with the ear or support 30receiving a shaft 32 which additionally passes through spaced mountingplates 34. The plates 34 have a flat mounting member or flange 36thereon which is normally positioned over the end portion. of plate 28opposite from the ear or support 30 and a mounting bolt or the like 38passes through the member 36 and plate 28 to hold same in assembledrelation. The walking beam members 24 and 26 are desirably welded orotherwise suitably secured to the side of the plates 34 so that whendesired the mounting bolt 38 can be removed and the Samson post pivotedabout the shaft 32 to move the pumping apparatus from the well area.

The upper end portion of the Samson post 22 has bearing blocks ormounting means 40 and 42 mounted thereon which receive and mount a shaft44.

An elongated walking beam is provided and shown generally at 46, thebeam 46 preferably being constructed of two spaced and generallyparallel channel-shaped members 48 and 50. Preferably the walking beam46 is pivotally mounted on shaft 44 on the Samson post 22 by use of aflat, elongated plate 52 which is positioned between the channel-shapedmembers 48 and 50 of the walking beam 46 and is rigidly secured thereto,such as by welding. The plate 52 is of size to project above the walkingbeam as best illustrated in FIG. 1 of the drawings and the projectingend portion thereof receives shaft 44 and bearing means can be providedto facilitate pivotal movement of the walking beam 46 about the shaft44.

A horsehead 54 of suitable construction is preferably provided andmounted on the end portion of the walking beam 46. Preferably, thehorsehead 54 is of the type :3 shown and described in my Patent No.3,006,201, patented October 31, 1961, titled Well Pump Means. Horsehead54 includes two spaced and generally parallel side portions or members56 and 58 of like construction which are positioned in spaced relationat opposite sides of the walking beam 46. A shaft 60 extends between theside portions 56 and 58 of the horsehead 54 and is pivotally mounted onthe upper forward end portion of the walking beam 46 in any suitablemanner. The side members 56 and 58 each have an arcuate outer and uppersurface or edge 62 and 64 respectively.

A connecting member 66 is secured to the upper and rearward edgeportions of the side members 56 and 58 and has an arcuate portion whichforms a continuation of the arcuate surfaces 62 and 64 on the sidemembers and an upper flange or lip portion 68 which projects outwardlyover the arcuate portion. In use a rope or cable 70 is received by theconnecting member 66 with the lip or flange 68 preventing inadvertentremoval thereof and with the side portions of the rope or cable 70 beingpositioned on the fiat arcuate portions 62 and 64 of the side members 56and 58, respectively. The end portions of the rope 70 are secured to aconnecting member or the like '72 which in turn is secured to the rodsin the well (not shown).

Each of the side portions 56 and 58 of the horsehead 54 has a rearwardlyprojecting arm portion as shown at 74 for the member 56 and a cable,rope or the like 76 is secured in its end portions to the outermost endsof the arm portions 74. An arcuate mounting member, such as a pulley orthe like shown at 78, is provided and is secured to the base 12 thorugha mounting member 80. In operation, the cable 76 limits movement of armportions 74 to compound the movement of the horsehead 54 in relation tothe movement of the end portion of the walking beam 46 on which it ismounted.

A plate 84, FIG. 2, is positioned between and rigidly secured to the endportions of the channel-shaped members 48 and 50 of the walking beam 46opposite from the horsehead 54 and the plate can be secured in positionby welding or other suitable means. Preferably, the plate is of size toproject or extend above and below the members 48 and 50 forming thewalking beam 46. A plurality of counterbalance weight means 86 arepositioned against the outer surfaces of the channel-shaped members 48and 50 of the walking beam 46 and are preferably secured in place bymounting bolts 88 which pass through the counterbalance weights 86 andthrough the portions of the plate 84 which project above and below thewalking beam.

Suitable powering means are provided to drive the well pumpingapparatus. The powering means as illustrated in the drawings includesspeed reduction gearing 90 which is mounted 011 a suitable plate or thelike 92 supported by the base 12 in any suitable manner. The speedreduction gearing 90 includes an input shaft 94 at one end portionthereof which is constructed to be attached to and driven by a motor,engine or the like (not shown). The gearing 90 has an output shaft 96which preferably projects from both sides of the gearing as shown inFIG. 2. The gearing 90 is preferably positioned between the Samson post22 and the end member 18 of the frame or base 12.

Two crank arms 100 and 102 are each secured in one end portion to theend portions of the shaft 96 and the other end portions of the crankarms are secured to two spaced pitmans 104 and 106, respectively, bypivots 105 and 107. The pitmans 104 and 106 are preferably positioned ingenerally parallel planes and are positioned on opposite sides of thewalking beam 46 as is best illustrated in FIG. 2.

counterbalance weights 110 and 112 are mounted on the end portions ofthe pitmans 104 and 106, respectively, opposite from the connection ofthe pitmans to the crank arms and preferably the counterbalance weightmeans are secured by mounting bolts or the like as shown at 114 and 116which pass through the weights and 112, respectively, and throughmounting holes or the like 118 in the pitmans. Preferably a plurality ofthe holes are provided in each of the pitmans so that the counterbalanceweight means can be mounted at various positions therealong to moreaccurately perform their desired function.

Means are provided to adjustably mount or secure each of the pitmans 104and 106 to an intermediate portion of the walking beam 46 so thatmovement of the pitmans by the powering means causes pivotal movement ofthe walking beam about the shaft 44. Preferably this adjusting andmounting means is provided by a shaft 120 which extends between and ispivotally secured in its end portions to the intermediate portion of thepit mans 104 and 106 and is desirably positioned immediately below thewalking beam members 48 and 50. A mounting member is provided which hasa flat portion as shown at 122 positioned between the channel members 48and 50 of the walking beam 46 and is desirably located between theSamson post 22 and the counterbalance weights 86 on the end portion ofthe walking beam 46. The mounting member 122 has a portion thereof whichprojects below the walking beam 46 and through which the shaft 120passes and is rotatably received. The mounting member has spaced flangeportions 124 and 126 which are preferably generally triangular in shapeas best illustrated in FIG. 3 and which are rigidly secured to thelongitudinal ends of the portion of the member 122 which projects belowthe walking beam and are positioned transversely to the fiat portion122. The flange portions 124 and 126 rest on and engage the lowersurface of the channel members 48 and 50 of the walking beam 46.

The mounting means includes a plate 128 which has spaced and centrallylocated apertures 130 therethrough and is positioned against the uppersurface of the channel members 48 and 50 of the walking beam 46 abovethe portion 122 of the mounting means. Suitable mounting bolts or thelike 132 pass through the plate 128 and are threadedly received in theupper end of the flat portion 122 of the mounting member and upontightening of the bolts 132 the plate 128 and the flanges 124 and 126 ofthe mounting means tightly and firmly engage opposite edge portions ofthe walking beam to attach the pitmans 104 and 106 to the walking beam.

The preferred means of the invention for mounting the pitmans on thewalking beam is very desirable and merely by loosening and tighteningthe bolts 132 and moving the fiat member 122 relative to the walkingbeam the position of the pitmans relative to the walking beam can beadjusted over any desired increment, and this adjustment changes themovement of the walking beam and thus the horsehead and varies thestroke of the well pumping apparatus making it suitable for use ondifiFerent wells where the loads encountered are substantially differentand where pumping depths vary considerably. This adjustment also variesthe movement of the counterbalance weight means during the pumpingcycle.

In operation power is provided to the well pumping apparatus through theoutput shafts 96 of the speed reduction gearing 90 which turns the crankarms 100 and 102 and this rotary movement of the crank arms istransmitted to a reciprocating movement by the pitmans 104 and 106.Movement of the pitmans causes the walking beam 46 to be moved about thepivot or shaft 44 carried by the Samson post and thi in turn causesmovement of the horsehead, the positions of the movable elements ofapparatus being shown in the solid and dotted lines during a half cycleof the well pumping apparatus. Movement of the horsehead 54 in turnmoves the connecting member 72 to raise and lower the rods in the wellduring pumping of oil, water, etc. The counterbalancing weight means 86at the end portion of the walking beam opposite from the horsehead serveto even out or balance the load of the well pumping apparatus within theWell hole itself, that is the rods, pump structure, etc. In the absenceof these counterbalancing means a load would be present on the speedreduction gearing 90 only during a half of a revolution of the shaft 96and such would cause undue wear and breaking of the parts of thegearing.

The counterbalance weight means 110 and 112 are provided and areadjustably positioned on the pitmans 104 and 106, respectively, tocompensate for the fluid load in the well as carried by the well pumpingapparatus and in operation moves from the position shown in the solidlines to the position shown in the dotted lines as the horsehead movesfrom the solid to the dotted positions as illustrated in FIG. 1. Theweights 110 and 112, are, in effect, on the horsehead during downwardmovement of the horsehead when substantially no fluid load is presentand moves to a position to be, in effect, on the weights 86 duringupward movement of the horsehead when maximum fluid load is present. Theshaft 120 can be positioned above the walking beam, if desired, howeverthe weights 110 and 112 move a greater distance when shaft 120 is belowthe walking beam.

The usual prior art pumping apparatus does not provide any means forcompensating for the fluid load in the well or for rapidly andaccurately adjusting the pumping apparatus for any changes in loadencountered due to the change in the amount or type of fluid beingpumped. In addition, the well pumping apparatus of the inventionprovides for adjustment of the connection of the pitmans to the walkingbeam which further provides for adjustment for the load encountered. Asa result of the adjustments and counterb-alancing of the apparatus ofthe invention together with the adjustable connecting means theapparatus is highly versatile and can be used in many instances indifferent locations under varying conditions and in addition is moreaccurately adjusted to the load encountered in each well. This resultsin less wear and breakage of the structure involved, particularly thegearing means 90, and furthermore in some instances it results in powermeans of smaller capacity being used in a specific instance whichreduces initial cost as well as operating expenses of the well.

While the invention has been described in connection with a preferredspecific embodiment thereof it will be understood by those skilled inthe art that this description is intended to illustrate and not to limitthe scope of the invention, which is defined by the claims.

Iclaim:

1. Well pumping apparatus comprising, in combination, a base havingspaced and generally parallel side members joined at the end portions toend members, a Samson post mounted in one end portion on one of said endmembers of said base and projecting upwardly therefrom, said Samson postbeing constructed of two spaced and parallel beams, a shaft mounted onsaid Samson post and extending between said beams, an elongated walkingbeam constructed of two spaced and parallel members, a bearing meansmounted on the intermediate portions of said members of said walkingbeam pivotally mounting same on the intermediate portion of said shaft,a horsehead pivotally mounted on one end portion of said walking beamand having means therewith constructed to receive and hold a cable orthe like, said horsehead having spaced rearwardly projecting armportions positioned on opposite sides of said walking beam, a pulleyoperatively connected to said one end portion of said base, a cableoperatively connected to said arm portions of said horsehead and saidpulley, a plate positioned between and rigidly secured to the other endportion of said members of said walking beam and extending above andbelow said beam, a plurality of counter balance weights mounted on saidplate, drive means mounted on said base and having an output shaftextending to both sides thereof, two crank arms, each of said crank armshaving one end portion rotatably secured to said output shaft of saiddrive means, two spaced and generally parallel pitmans each rotatablysecured in one end portion to the other end portions of said crank armsand positioned on opposite sides of said walking beam, counter balanceweights adjustably secured to the other end portions of each of saidpitmans, a shaft extending between and rotatably secured in its endportions to the intermediate portions of said pitmans, a mounting memberhaving a flat portion positioned between said members of said walkingbeam between said Samson post and said counter balance weights on saidwalking beam, said mounting member having a portion extending below saidwalking beam and rotatably receiving said last-named shaft, saidmounting member having spaced flange portions on said extending portionthereof positioned transversely to said flat portion and engaging thelower surfaces of said members of said walking beam, a plate havingspaced apertures therethrough positioned on the upper surfaces of saidmembers of said walking beam, mounting bolts passing through saidapertures in said last-named plate and between said members of saidwalking beam and threadedly mounted in said flat portion of saidmounting member to fixedly and adjustably locate said mounting memberrelative to said walking beam, said mounting member being positioned on.said walking beam so that said weights on said pitmans are positionedand moved during Well pumping operations With said weights on saidpitmans being moved in opposition to said Weights on said walking beamduring at least a portion of a cycle of operation to thereby balancesaid well pumping apparatus for the load of the fluid being pumped, saidwell pumping apparatus being constructed and adapted so that operationof said drive means rotates said crank arms and causes said pitmans tomove said walking beam about said first-named shaft with said counterbalance weights on said other end portion of said walking beam balancingthe load on said drive means and with said counter balance weights onsaid pitmans balancing said apparatus for the weight of the fluid beingpumped from the well, the connection of said pitmans to said walkingbeam being adjustable to obtain proper balance in use.

2. Well pumping apparatus comprising, in combination, a base disposed ina generally horizontal position, a Samson post mounted on one endportion of said base and projecting upwardly therefrom, a shaft mountedon the other end portion of said Samson post, an elongated walking beamconstructed of two spaced and parallel members and having anintermediate portion thereof pivotally connected to said shaft, ahorsehead pivotally mounted on one end portion of said walking beam andhaving a portion adapted to receive and hold thereon a rope,counterbalance weight means carried by the other end portion of saidwalking beam, speed reduction gearing carried by said base andpositioned between said Samson post and the other end portion of saidbase and constructed to be operatively connected to and turned by powermeans, two crank arms each connected in one end portion to an outputshaft of said gearing, two pitmans each rotatably secured in one endportion to the other end portions of said crank arms and positioned onopposite sides of said walking beam, counterbalance weight meansadjustably secured to the other end portion of each of said pitmans, ashaft extending between and rotatably secured in its end portions to theintermediate portions of said pitmans, a mounting member receiving saidshaft having a flat portion positioned between said members of saidwalking beam and between said Samson post and said counterbalance weightmeans on said walking beam, said mounting member having a portionextending transversely to said first-named portion and engaging a loweredge surface of said members of said walking beam, 21 plate positionedalong the upper edge surfaces of said members of said walking beam, andmounting bolts passing through said lastnamed plate and mounted in saidfirst-named portion of said mounting member to fixedly and adjustablylocate said mounting member relative to said walking beam, said mountingmember being positioned on said walking beam so that said weight meanson said pitmans are positioned and moved during well pumping operationsto balance said well pumping apparatus for the load of the fluid beingpumped, said well pumping apparatus being constructed and adapted sothat operation of said gearing will rotate said crank arms and causesaid pitmans to move said Walking beam about said first-named shaft withsaid counterbalance weight means on said other end portion of saidwalking beam balancing the load on said gearing and with saidcounterbalance weight means on said pitmans balancing said apparatus forthe weight of the fluid being pumped from the well, the connection ofsaid pitmans to said Walking beam being adjustable to obtain properbalance in use.

3. Well pumping means comprising in combination, an upright supportmeans, a walking beam, means pivotally mounting said walking beam onsaid upright support means, connecting means on a first end of a saidwalking beam for operative engagement with a well rod, firstcounter-balance weight means mounted on a second opposite end of saidwalking beam, powering means having a power output crank arm meanslocated below said walking beam and extending transversely thereto,elongated pitman means having a lower end pivotally mounted to saidcrank arm means, connection means on the intermediate portion of saidpitman means pivotally connecting same to said walking means at a pointspaced from said means pivotally mounting said walking beam on saidupright support means, second counter-balance weight means mounted onthe upper end of said pitman means, said well pumping means adapted inuse to impose a relatively constant load on the powering means when saidsecond counter-balance weight means on said pitman means is rockedduring the pumping to add a counter-balance force approximately equal tothe weight of the fluid normally pumped to said 8 walking beam duringthe down stroke of the well rod which counter-balance force requires anexpenditure of power to overcome.

4-. In a well pumping means having an upright support means, a Walkingbeam pivot-ally mounted on the upright support means, connecting meanson the walking beam for operative engagement with a well rod, acounterbalance weight mean on the opposite end of the walking beam,powering means having a power output crank arm means located beneath thewalking beam and extending transversely thereto, the improvementcomprising, an elongated generally upright pitman means having a lowerend pivotally mounted on said crank arm means, a connection means on theintermediate portion of said pitman means pivotally connecting same tothe walking beam, counter-balance means on the upper end of said pitmanmeans, said well pumping means adapted in use to impose a relativelyconstant load on the powering means of same when said secondcounter-balance weight means on said pitman is automatically rockedduring the pumping stroke to shift the center of gravity of the pitmanand walking beam combination outwardly toward the first counter-balanceweight means during the down stroke of the well rod thus requiring anadditional expenditure of power.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,293,609 2/19Dayton 7441 1,567,586 12/25 Gardner 74108 1,609,250 11/26 Holmgreen74108 1,758,609 5/30 Kammerer 74-589 1,943,906 1/34 Walton 745891,953,903 4/34 Austin 74103 2,042,294 5/36 Bloss 7441 2,054,655 9/36Humphrey 74l03 2,380,686 7/45 Cummins 74-41 2,841,992 7/58 Chastain74590 XR 2,958,237 11/60 Johnson 7441 XR 3,006,201 10/61 Ross 7441BROUGHTON G. DURHAM, Primary Examiner.

4. IN A WELL PUMPING MEANS HAVIN AN UPRIGHT SUPPORT MEANS, A WALKINGBEAM PIVOTALLY MOUNTED ON THE UPRIGHT SUPPORT MEANS, CONNECTING MEANS ONTHE WALKING BEAM FOR OPERATIVE ENGAGEMENT WITH A WELL ROD, ACOUNTERBALANCE WEIGHT MEANS ON THE OPPOSITE END OF THE WALKING BEAM,POWERING MEANS HAVING A POWER OUTPUT CRANK ARM MEANS LOCATED BENEATH THEWALKING BEAM AND EXTENDING TRANSVERSELY THERETO, THE IMPROVEMENTCOMPRISING, AN ELONGATED GENERALLY UPRIGHT PITMAN MEANS HAVING A LOWEREND PIVOTALLY MOUNTED ON SAID CARNK ARM MEANS, A CONNECTION MEANS ON THEINTERMEDIATE PORTION OF SAID PITMAN MEANS PIVOTALLY CONNECTING SAME TOTHE WALKING BEAM, COUNTER-BALANCE MEANS ON THE UPPER END OF SAID PITMANMEANS, SAID WELL PUMPING MEANS ADAPTED IN USE TO IMPOSE A RELATIVELYCONSTANT LOAD ON THE POWERING MEANS OF SAME WHEN SAID SECONDCOUNTER-BALANCE WEIGHT MEANS ON SAID PITMAN IS AUTOMATICALLY ROCKEDDURING THE PUMPING STROKE TO SHIFT THE CENTER OF GRAVITY OF THE PITMANAND WALKING BEAM COMBINATION OUTWARDLY TOWARD THE FIRST COUNTER-BALANCEWEIGHT MEANS DURING THE DOWN STROKE OF THE WELL ROD THUS REQUIRING ANADDITIONAL EXPENDITURE OF POWER.